At Least 11 People Infected With The Zika Virus In Phichit

11 people in the Phichit’s Bung Na Rang district have been confirmed to have contracted the Zika virus, while a further 16 are suspected of being infected and another 33 who had come into close contact with those people are currently being tested and are under observation.

Since the 30th June lab tests proved 11 people had tested positive for the Zika virus though none of them were pregnant women.

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The Zika virus is especially dangerous to pregnant women as the virus can pass to the unborn foetus and cause a birth defect of the brain called microcephaly and other brain defects, it is also linked to other complications including miscarriage, stillbirth and other birth defects.

Dr Darin Areechokchai of the Department of Disease Control’s Bureau of Epidemiology said that so far this year there has been 81 Zika patients across 16 provinces in Thailand, four of which have been pregnant women.

The public has been told not to be alarmed but people with flu-like or dengue fever symptoms should consult their doctor who would perform a blood test if needed.

Phichit governor Wirasak Wichitsaengsri said that 667 homes in the affected area have been fumigated to kill mosquitoes and they have surveyed 442 homes to destroy mosquito lava.